Changing the Checkout Process

[pdxdoug]

I hoping that I can change the checkout process somewhat.

We're a retail florist and an alarming number of customers either don't read or don't understand about the ship to address. I've changed the text on that page (checkout step 1 of 3) but that hasn't seemed to help - inevitably we need to contact customers to get correct recipient information

So this is the checkout flow that I like -

After the customer either logs in or sets up a new account, I'd like to take them straight to to the checkout_shipping_address page first so they can either enter the recipient or select from previously entered addresses, then resume the normal checkout process.

Is there a simple way to change the steps to accomplish this?

Thanks in advance!

Doug
www.broadwayfloral.com

Zen Cart v1.3.8a - Patched
Date Reminder Addon - modified
Checkout modified for delivery date/time/occasion/gift card message
(Both mods were done by a web design firm)

[bunyip]

Yes, you can simply change the links for checkout (in the header and on the shopping cart page) to point directly to the checkout_shipping_address page by editing your tpl_header and tpl_shopping_cart_default files and changing

zen_href_link(FILENAME_CHECKOUT_SHIPPING, '', 'SSL')

to

zen_href_link(FILENAME_CHECKOUT_SHIPPING_ADDRESS, '', 'SSL')

If someone clicks on the checkout link before they are logged in, they will go to log in or create an account, and the cart should redirect them automatically to the checkout_shipping_address page on completion.

[pdxdoug]

Thanks for the reply.

So changing the code in the locations indicated will result in a checkout flow like this:

Customer hits checkout button
Customer goes to Account Creation/Login
Customer then taken to new shipping address screen with address book
Customer either enters new address or selects one from address book
Customer then taken to Checkout Step 1 and they Checkout normally, still being able to go back to the New Address screen

The files to change are includes/templates/template_default/common/tpl_header.php
and includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_checkout_shipping_default, correct?

Thanks,
Doug

[bunyip]

Thanks for the reply.
The files to change are includes/templates/template_default/common/tpl_header.php
and includes/templates/template_default/templates/tpl_checkout_shipping_default, correct?

You need to make copies of those files and save them as includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/common/tpl_header.php and includes/templates/YOUR_TEMPLATE/templates/tpl_shopping_cart_default.php
(note from my original reply that it should be the shopping_cart_default that you edit, not checkout_shipping_default)

[pdxdoug]

Neville,

Thanks so much. It's just what I wanted. I changed the text on the new address page a bit and hopefully this will end confusion.

Thanks again,
Doug